Weekend Review: Bookies left exhausted by sensational scenes on Super Sunday
Exchanges hurt by the Cricket World Cup draw at Lord's as the Super Sunday Betway Boost treble comes up trumps
Yesterday was the most super of sporting Sundays as England’s cricketers secured a famous World Cup win in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
Hosts England beat New Zealand to win the competition for the first time after one of the most remarkable games of cricket ever played was tied at 241 runs each and 15-all following a super over.
England was crowned world champions, having scored more boundaries – 26 to New Zealand’s 17 – during the match.
While the drama was unfolding at Lord’s, Novak Djokovic won his fifth Wimbledon title after beating Roger Federer in a thrilling encounter as Lewis Hamilton romped home at Silverstone to win the British Grand Prix.
"England have won the World Cup by the barest of all margins. Absolute ecstasy for England, agony for New Zealand!"
The final moments of #CWC19 haven't quite sunk in yet ?
Relive them once again ⬇️#CWC19Final | #WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/y1zWIlEg4g
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 14, 2019
Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “It was a truly amazing weekend of sport which no doubt left punters confused and overwhelmed in terms of what to watch and bet on.
“As is perhaps obvious, a draw in any game of cricket is very bookmaker-friendly result, but in a World Cup final it’s even better.
“This one left us significantly in the black, although England were very well supported in the Outright markets, so we gave a fair chunk back there,” he added.
The draw was less welcome at the exchanges who voided all bets on the core match odds market, leaving them without commission despite close to a hundred million being matched.
£93 MILLION matched and Betfair get zero commission ???
— The SportsTrader (@SportsTrader_AU) July 14, 2019
Bet365’s Steve Freeth said he felt shattered just by watching the sport and writing about it.
“England cricket fans would have been celebrating after such a dramatic finish, likewise our in-play punters who kept the faith as England drifted to 10/1 at one point,” said Freeth.
“It was a losing day for us but generally it was a good tournament,” he added.
Australian bookmaker Sportsbet is refunding punters who backed New Zealand to win, describing the method used to determine England’s victory an “absolute disgrace”.
The Flutter-owned operator said it had refunded 11,500 people a total of $426,223 after they had backed New Zealand to win the final head-to head, or to win the tournament outright.
Sportsbet’s Rich Hummerston said: “Let’s not beat around the bush, for a World Cup to be decided like that is an absolute disgrace, and the punters shouldn’t have to pay for the ICC’s ineptness.”
Kids, don’t take up sport. Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) July 15, 2019
Betway’s Alan Alger described it as a “truly momentous weekend of sport” where activity on the operator’s site matched any big weekend during the domestic football season.
The operator offered a Betway Boost called Super Sunday, which included Hamilton, Djokovic and England to win in a treble.
“Anyone who backed our Betway Boost needed an incredible amount of luck to see it home,” said Alger. “The fluctuations in prices in both the cricket and the tennis ensured we had plenty of in-play money to balance the books, although both matches ended in the worst result.”
World number one and two seeds Djokovic and Federer played out an all-time classic Wimbledon final in a match that lasted four hours and 57 minutes.
It was the longest singles final in the history of the competition and was decided on a final set tie-break having gone all the way.
Kindred’s Gill said: “Djokovic eventually took the crown after a final set tie break and as an overall result that was what we wanted, as Federer was hugely popular with punters on the day.”
An honor.. @KensingtonRoyal #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/3h37JNbjUe
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) July 14, 2019
Elsewhere, Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton won a record sixth British Grand Prix in an exciting race that involved a dramatic crash between Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton’s victory extended his championship lead to 39 points. Bet365’s Freeth said: “Hamilton barely topped Evens during the race, so little damage was done on a fantastic day of sport that will live long in the memory.”
Betway’s Alger added: “Individually the British Grand Prix was a bad result for us, with Hamilton the only driver punters were interested in.”
I can’t tell you how incredible this feels guys. Everyone’s support and energy out there, that was crazy. I can’t express how grateful I am to all the fans, and to my incredible team. This moment will stay with me for the rest of my life ??Thank you #wewinandwelosetogether pic.twitter.com/j2SgjYxbND
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) July 14, 2019